Weston's Into The Name Game

Businesses Will Be Printing Up New Letterheads, Cards

September 21, 2005|By Nicole T. Lesson Staff Writer

Weston — The renaming of Arvida Parkway, effective Jan. 1, means some businesses will have to make changes of their own.

The street address on business cards, letterhead stationery and directional materials eventually must be altered to Glades Parkway, if the business is north of Saddle Club Road, and Royal Palm Boulevard, if south of Saddle Club Road.

"We are waiting until the last minute, so we can use up all the letterhead," said Pam Koffin, office manager of the accounting firm Freedman & Co. at 17140 Arvida Parkway. "We will have to change everything that has our address on it. We have to order new envelopes, business cards, stickers to IRS and everything else."

Changing the print may be easier than changing people's memories.

"Nobody is going to call it that for a long time, they will probably say the old Arvida Parkway," she said.

Public safety was the primary reason behind the new names. Interstate 75 has two Arvida Parkway exits, which can cause problems when people call in a 911 emergency.

"It can be very confusing to a number of people. Many residents are familiar of the area, but in an emergency, the people may not be from Weston," City Manager John Flint said. "They have to explain to a dispatcher where they are and they may not know there is another I-75 and Arvida."

Rescuers are now sent to both locations. "We are sending twice as many resources than needed, until we find out where the call is at," Flint said. Having two different names would change that, he added.

The city is trying to remind people. A mailing flier about the name change was sent out a few weeks ago to residents and occupational license holders in Weston.

Another one will be mailed in November, said Denise Barrett, the city's communication director.

"We have been speaking to the businesses since there was a potential for changing the name," Barrett said. "The bulk of the changes will be with directional materials."

Commissioners approved the renaming at their July 5 meeting, and the city is expected to install the new street signs in December. "Arvida Parkway" will be printed below the new names for one year.

The Athletic Club at Weston, at 2300 Arvida Parkway, next year will bear the new address 2300 Royal Palm Blvd.

For John Perkins, the club's general manager, "it will just be a little adjustment."

Nicole T. Lesson can be reached at nlesson@sun-sentinel.com or 954-385-7920.